Around 550 workers are facing redundancy while more than 1,600 highly-skilled scientists and research staff will be asked to relocate to Cambridge.

Union chiefs were today due to confront AstraZeneca bosses after the drugs giant dropped a jobs bombshell on the region.

The M.E.N. reported yesterday how the firm was closing its historic research centre at Alderley Park in Cheshire.

Just 700 of the 2,900 staff currently working at the site are set to remain there after 2016.

Around 550 workers are facing redundancy while more than 1,600 highly-skilled scientists and research staff will be asked to relocate more than 150 miles to a new £330m base in Cambridge.

Trade union leaders were already due to meet the company’s UK management today for an annual wage and conditions review.

The M.E.N. understands they will now use the meeting to demand answers about the restructure.

And union bosses refused to rule out strike action if their concerns are not met.

Gary Owen, regional officer for the north west at Unite said: “We are a long way away from actions like that, but then again, I wouldn’t rule it out. It’s certainly in the back pocket, but it’s also in the long grass.

“We have to try to move forward sensibly and see what we can do through dialogue and proper consultation.

“We would only go to our members if we felt we were being rail-roaded.”

Mr Owen admitted he had ‘serious concerns’ about the impact of the closure.

He said: “Personally, I have doubts whether they will be able to retain the services of the 1,600 people who they want to relocate.

“You may get just a few hundred wanting to move and that would leave hundreds of highly skilled people looking for similar roles in the north west. They are not the sort of jobs you would advertise in the job centre. They are not easy to come by.”

AstraZeneca says the restructure has been motivated by scientific concerns, rather than cost-cutting.

Mene Pangalos, the company’s executive vice-president for innovative medicines, said: “This is about the overall scientific eco-system we are moving to. It’s when you look at the totality at what’s available in Cambridge and London that we reached (our) decision.

“We have very close relationships with The Christie, which is a phenomenal oncology hospital. And Manchester University is a great institution and we have great collaborations with them. We will continue to have strong links with those institutions.”

It’s a huge blow and a sad day, but the Golden triangle community can survive

Community leaders say Cheshire’s ‘golden triangle’ will remain one of the country’s most prosperous places – despite the loss of the AstraZeneca jobs.

The 400-acre Alderley Park site was purchased by ICI in 1950, attracting some of the world’s leading scientists and researchers to work in the area.

Since AstraZeneca took over the site in the late 90s they have invested more than £150m so news that up to 2,300 of the site’s 3,000 staff face redundancy or relocation has triggered fears of a ‘brain drain.’

It is estimated life sciences workers contribute £126,000 to their local economy each year - three times above the average.

House prices in the ‘golden triangle’ of Alderley Edge, Prestbury and Wilmslow have continued to rise in stark contrast to falling property values across the north west.

Local estate agents say the area’s infrastructure means it will continue to prosper despite the loss of thousands of high-skilled jobs.

Frank Keegan, Cheshire East councillor for Alderley Edge, said: “AstraZeneca and ICI have had a massive influence in the local area and shaping Wilmslow and Macclesfield through the supply of high-value and high-skilled jobs.

“Although it is a very sad day to see these jobs go we can use the legacy of the infrastructure left behind to make this an attractive place to do business. We’ve got the road and rail network already here and if we can find the right funding we can hopefully sustain our thriving local economy. It’s a huge blow but we must remember that AstraZeneca has been reducing for some years and these jobs will disappear gradually over two years, meaning we must now prepare for the future.”

Plans are in place to turn the site into a ‘hub’ for research and development companies.

Cheshire East council leader Michael Jones said three science firms have already expressed an interest in moving into the space set to be vacated by AstraZeneca.

He said: “The government is taking this very seriously, which is great news. We already have one firm who want to bring 100 jobs here. We also have two or three other firms interested."

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